Mangaluru : The International Children’s Film Festival concluded here on Thursday, Nov 26.

The younger generation needs to be taught that they should be more tolerant towards other communities, actor Nagma has said.

She was Talking at the valedictory function of the International Children’s Film Festival. “There is a lot of talk about Incredible India and Swachh Bharat… Bharat needs to be swachh from inside,” she said.

Ms. Nagma said that India was a country of diversities with a 125-crore population. “It is just that one to two crore people with Hindu fanatical mindset, who are causing problems.” She said that the essence of Hinduism was ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’. But those with a fanatical mindset were trying to divide the society, Ms. Nagma said.

Ms. Nagma said that even though the present environment was vitiated, she was proud to be a citizen of India that was a land of different religions and cultures. “Films, more for children, have a greater appeal on the people. It is through this medium that any illogical thought among people can be controlled,” she said.

Earlier, N.R. Nanjude Gowda, president of the non-governmental organisation Children’s India, which conducted the film festival, said he was taking the responsibility for the bad publicity for the four-day festival. Terming the problems because of the poor screening facilities that led to cancellation of shows in Udupi as a “minor issue”, Mr. Gowda said the issue had been blown out of proportion. He said that it was a black mark for him and he was not interested in knowing the reasons. Chairman of Karnataka Law Commission S.R. Nayak was present.